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Guard Your Heart
Not yet published
Expected 3 Nov 26After years of carefully avoiding each other on the circuit, two tennis stars are forced into an unexpected doubles partnership. What starts as barely concealed hostility slowly unravels into something neither man saw coming—and neither can walk away from.
448 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 11, 2026
ARC review:
So this is one of the first tennis sport themed books I’ve ever read so it was definitely new although I’m definitely grateful that I had a history in tennis although I don’t think it’s very beginner friendly because it doesn’t really go through what certain things mean in the book.
It definitely moves very fast and at the end it started getting slow and boring… and then Theo started getting also annoying, which was bad… the rivals to lovers point didn’t seem like a huge thing because they just became lovers fast. I still would recommend this book to people who enjoy sports themed romance, tennis, and MLM romances.
So this is one of the first tennis sport themed books I’ve ever read so it was definitely new although I’m definitely grateful that I had a history in tennis although I don’t think it’s very beginner friendly because it doesn’t really go through what certain things mean in the book.
It definitely moves very fast and at the end it started getting slow and boring… and then Theo started getting also annoying, which was bad… the rivals to lovers point didn’t seem like a huge thing because they just became lovers fast. I still would recommend this book to people who enjoy sports themed romance, tennis, and MLM romances.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The cover art immediately caught my attention, and the premise sounded like exactly the kind of sports romance I'd enjoy. Tennis rivals forced to become doubles partners? I am sat. Unfortunately, while the concept had a lot of potential, the execution ultimately fell flat for me.
My biggest issue was that this story relied heavily on telling rather than showing. We're repeatedly told that Theo and Will are incredible tennis players and that they're surprisingly effective as a doubles team, but what we actually see on the page doesn't support that. Most of the matches they play end in losses, and because we rarely get to see them training or learning to work together, it was difficult to buy into their growth as partners.
The romance suffered from a similar problem. We're told that Theo and Will develop strong feelings for each other, but the majority of their interactions consist of misunderstandings, miscommunication, and arguments. I kept waiting for the moments that would make me understand why these two belonged together, but those moments never fully materialized. By the time they finally got together, there were only a handful of pages left to enjoy them as a couple.
I also think this story would have benefited greatly from a dual POV. Experiencing everything through Will's perspective made Theo incredibly frustrating to read about. He often came across as cold, distant, and uninterested, and because we never get inside his head, it was difficult to understand his actions or connect with him as a romantic lead. I found myself wanting more insight into his thoughts and feelings throughout the entire book.
Normally, I don't mind fade-to-black at all. Some of my favorite MM romances are fade-to-black. However, those books succeed because the emotional chemistry and relationship development are strong enough to carry the story without physical intimacy taking center stage. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here. I never felt the spark or chemistry between Theo and Will that would have made me fully invest in their relationship.
Ultimately, this felt more like a story about two tennis players who occasionally happened to be attracted to each other than a true romance. The premise had so much potential, and I kept waiting for the rivalry, partnership, and relationship dynamics to fully come together, but they never did satisfyingly for me. Thank you NetGalley and LYX for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: rivals to teammates to lovers, hate to love, bi-awakening, opposites attract
NSFW Tags: fade to black
Third act breakup: Yes, lasts 4 1/2 months
OM/OW: Yes. William's ex propositions him, and he takes him up on his offer to let off steam from Theo, though he thinks of him the entire time. This is at the 41% mark, but at this point Theo hasn't shown signs of reciprocating William's feelings. This becomes a point of contention between William and Theo as the next day Theo kisses him. William's ex, in general, brings quite a bit of drama. Also, during their breakup, Theo started dating another woman.
My biggest issue was that this story relied heavily on telling rather than showing. We're repeatedly told that Theo and Will are incredible tennis players and that they're surprisingly effective as a doubles team, but what we actually see on the page doesn't support that. Most of the matches they play end in losses, and because we rarely get to see them training or learning to work together, it was difficult to buy into their growth as partners.
The romance suffered from a similar problem. We're told that Theo and Will develop strong feelings for each other, but the majority of their interactions consist of misunderstandings, miscommunication, and arguments. I kept waiting for the moments that would make me understand why these two belonged together, but those moments never fully materialized. By the time they finally got together, there were only a handful of pages left to enjoy them as a couple.
I also think this story would have benefited greatly from a dual POV. Experiencing everything through Will's perspective made Theo incredibly frustrating to read about. He often came across as cold, distant, and uninterested, and because we never get inside his head, it was difficult to understand his actions or connect with him as a romantic lead. I found myself wanting more insight into his thoughts and feelings throughout the entire book.
Normally, I don't mind fade-to-black at all. Some of my favorite MM romances are fade-to-black. However, those books succeed because the emotional chemistry and relationship development are strong enough to carry the story without physical intimacy taking center stage. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case here. I never felt the spark or chemistry between Theo and Will that would have made me fully invest in their relationship.
Ultimately, this felt more like a story about two tennis players who occasionally happened to be attracted to each other than a true romance. The premise had so much potential, and I kept waiting for the rivalry, partnership, and relationship dynamics to fully come together, but they never did satisfyingly for me. Thank you NetGalley and LYX for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tags/Warnings
.
.
.
Tropes: rivals to teammates to lovers, hate to love, bi-awakening, opposites attract
NSFW Tags: fade to black
Third act breakup: Yes, lasts 4 1/2 months
OM/OW: Yes. William's ex propositions him, and he takes him up on his offer to let off steam from Theo, though he thinks of him the entire time. This is at the 41% mark, but at this point Theo hasn't shown signs of reciprocating William's feelings. This becomes a point of contention between William and Theo as the next day Theo kisses him. William's ex, in general, brings quite a bit of drama. Also, during their breakup, Theo started dating another woman.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For fans of:
-Thirty Love
-Heated Rivalry
After years of carefully avoiding each other on the professional tennis circuit, stars Will and Theo are forced into an unexpected doubles partnership. What begins as barely concealed hostility slowly shifts as the two men spend more time together on and off the court. As old tensions begin to unravel, so do the feelings buried underneath them, leading Will and Theo to confront a connection neither of them expected, and neither can walk away from.
I loved, loved, loved this book!
One of the things this book does exceptionally well is capture the intense psychological pressure professional tennis players face. The sport is so individualistic that one bad match, one loss of confidence, can completely derail you. That aspect of the story felt incredibly authentic throughout. Will especially stood out to me as such a layered and compelling character. I really connected with the way he throws himself entirely into tennis to avoid dealing with his emotions. For athletes at this level, winning becomes everything; as long as you stay at the top, nothing else has to matter. Watching Will slowly realize that mindset is unsustainable was one of the strongest parts of the book for me.
At the start, you can genuinely feel Will’s resentment toward Theo. He’s built Theo up in his mind as arrogant, untouchable, and almost cruel, and convinces himself that Theo intentionally isolated him from the social side of the tennis world. Their decision to become doubles partners is initially rooted in image rehabilitation: Will wants to shed his reputation as the “Ice King.” At the same time, Theo hopes to control the emotional volatility that constantly follows him on court. Theo may be the golden boy of tennis, but beneath that image is someone just as insecure and emotionally guarded as Will.
As the story progresses, from tense practices to quieter, more vulnerable moments like their late-night swims, Will's image of Theo slowly breaks apart. What emerges instead is a relationship built on mutual understanding, loneliness, and the realization that both of them are carrying far more than they let the world see.
I also thought the third act was incredibly strong emotionally. You could feel Will’s frustration and self-loathing as he struggled to perform at the level he expected from himself. He desperately wants to regain control over his emotions and return to the version of himself that existed before he allowed himself to be vulnerable. But once he finally lets himself experience happiness and connection, he realizes he can’t simply bury those feelings through harder training or stricter discipline. That internal conflict felt raw, believable, and, at times, honestly heartbreaking.
I received this eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Rowan, Carla Brooks, and LYX for the opportunity to review *Guard Your Heart*. This review has also been posted on my Goodreads: @jack-pusloskie.
-Thirty Love
-Heated Rivalry
After years of carefully avoiding each other on the professional tennis circuit, stars Will and Theo are forced into an unexpected doubles partnership. What begins as barely concealed hostility slowly shifts as the two men spend more time together on and off the court. As old tensions begin to unravel, so do the feelings buried underneath them, leading Will and Theo to confront a connection neither of them expected, and neither can walk away from.
I loved, loved, loved this book!
One of the things this book does exceptionally well is capture the intense psychological pressure professional tennis players face. The sport is so individualistic that one bad match, one loss of confidence, can completely derail you. That aspect of the story felt incredibly authentic throughout. Will especially stood out to me as such a layered and compelling character. I really connected with the way he throws himself entirely into tennis to avoid dealing with his emotions. For athletes at this level, winning becomes everything; as long as you stay at the top, nothing else has to matter. Watching Will slowly realize that mindset is unsustainable was one of the strongest parts of the book for me.
At the start, you can genuinely feel Will’s resentment toward Theo. He’s built Theo up in his mind as arrogant, untouchable, and almost cruel, and convinces himself that Theo intentionally isolated him from the social side of the tennis world. Their decision to become doubles partners is initially rooted in image rehabilitation: Will wants to shed his reputation as the “Ice King.” At the same time, Theo hopes to control the emotional volatility that constantly follows him on court. Theo may be the golden boy of tennis, but beneath that image is someone just as insecure and emotionally guarded as Will.
As the story progresses, from tense practices to quieter, more vulnerable moments like their late-night swims, Will's image of Theo slowly breaks apart. What emerges instead is a relationship built on mutual understanding, loneliness, and the realization that both of them are carrying far more than they let the world see.
I also thought the third act was incredibly strong emotionally. You could feel Will’s frustration and self-loathing as he struggled to perform at the level he expected from himself. He desperately wants to regain control over his emotions and return to the version of himself that existed before he allowed himself to be vulnerable. But once he finally lets himself experience happiness and connection, he realizes he can’t simply bury those feelings through harder training or stricter discipline. That internal conflict felt raw, believable, and, at times, honestly heartbreaking.
I received this eBook ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Rowan, Carla Brooks, and LYX for the opportunity to review *Guard Your Heart*. This review has also been posted on my Goodreads: @jack-pusloskie.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Guard Your Heart Netgalley Review:
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and Lyx for letting me read this ARC. I’m always grateful that I have this opportunity and am allowed to share my thoughts and critiques!
Now for the review:
Firstly I wanted to talk about the tennis aspect, as someone who is a big tennis fan. I loved how we got full on matches and you could feel the adrenaline and atmosphere. The actual tennis was a big part so I liked that. Although, I do feel like you definitely have to at least somewhat understand tennis to truly appreciate this book.
•I enjoyed the writing. I feel like the authors have a nice writing style and a lot of potential. I do think there’s not enough emotion in the writing. I did feel William’s pain and devastation through out the book. I don’t know how to put it really. I sympathized with him but couldn’t empathize.
As for the couple, Theo and William:
One of the only things I was a little eh about, was the chemistry. Admittedly they were very cute together, but the chemistry felt more best friend than anything else for a good portion of the book. I mean this is marketed as rivals to lovers, but it’s such a mild rivalry. The stakes were not very high and I didn’t really feel the animosity more than desire from either of them. It felt bland. There was just not enough emotion and I’m not sure if that’s a problem with the writing or if these characters truly just didn’t have the chemistry I anticipated.
This is going to sound crazy, but I almost didn’t want them to end up together. I genuinely think William deserved better. Theo wasn’t that awful and he tried to get along with William for the most part, but I just think William really deserved someone who felt more all in than Theo. The situation didn’t feel high stakes enough for Theo to act the way he did. Maybe because it’s from Will’s perspective, but I really didn’t connect with Theo. I think they would’ve been better off as friends rather than ever getting involved. They could’ve been really cute best friends. The chemistry just wasn’t there and William deserved better.
I would say that if you like tennis and mm and don’t want anything with open door spice, then give this a go. It read it quickly, continuously wanting to know where the story would go. The ending was pretty nice, even despite my feelings on the couple. An HEA is always appreciated of course. Definitely consider picking this up when it comes out in November!🖤
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you LYX and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I continue to absolutely tennis romances! William Hagen just lost his chance to win the U.S. Open and he wishes he could blame it on his play, or only on his play, but really it doesn’t help that all the crowd hate him as do the interviewers. But really is it his fault that his sole focus is winning and playing good tennis? Somehow it’s given him the name the Ice King. Everyone thinks he’s cold and aloof but really he just plays the game. He’s not interested in making friends, plus he struggles with the interviewers he’s just not good at them. But now the hatred is affecting his game. His coach comes up with an idea to have him play a doubles charity tournament in order to bring him some good press. Plus his partner would be Theo Eastwood the golden boy of tennis. Who, even though he has an anger streak and his emotions get him a lot, everyone seems to love. But he’s also Will’s biggest rival, the two don’t get along at all. But the more they play together the more they see what they have in common. And soon what starts as friendship starts to turn into something more. Will’s gay but Theo has never felt this way for a guy before. Will what they have last beyond a two week tournament or will the possibility of them being something more have them both running? This one’s sweet and charming, a rivals to lovers slow burn which are some of my absolute favorite tropes! It’s exciting, fun, swoony, and I couldn’t put it down! Anna Rowan and Carla Brooks write not just a good love story but also a heartwarming story of mental health, loneliness, growth, and seeing yourself better!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
~Thank you to LYX for the ARC of Guard You Heart in exchange for an honest review!~
This one is a frictionless read, ideal for readers of MM sports romance who prefer no on the page spice and a medium-angst relationship.
What worked for me
The prose is well-written and serves the story and genre well. It was never a chore to read.
I like the initial premise of an unliked tennis star trying to amend his image and teaming up with his rival to do so.
Theo is very likeable though not without his flaws which makes him a good romantic interest
Will goes through some (much needed) character growth
What didn't land for me
I found Will to be deeply unlikeable. His image with the press is, quite frankly, deserved. He is the Ice King, lacking meaningful connections with anyone and not caring for other people's experiences. He lacks self-awareness of this fact. And when called out on the pain he causes people, he has an anaphylactic allergy to personal responsibility. He derives pleasure from causing Theo jealousy. While he goes through some character growth, I think he needs a lot more.
The initial premise is that Will needs to improve his image with fans and the press, but this gets lost and is only really addressed at the beginning and towards the end of the book.
The romance and plot don't feel particularly stand-out to me compared to other books in the queer sports genre. It was fine, but not as memorable as others.
I wanted spice 😅
Overall, it's a decent read. I wanted more from it in terms of character growth and plot focus, but I didn't resist reading it.
This one is a frictionless read, ideal for readers of MM sports romance who prefer no on the page spice and a medium-angst relationship.
What worked for me
The prose is well-written and serves the story and genre well. It was never a chore to read.
I like the initial premise of an unliked tennis star trying to amend his image and teaming up with his rival to do so.
Theo is very likeable though not without his flaws which makes him a good romantic interest
Will goes through some (much needed) character growth
What didn't land for me
I found Will to be deeply unlikeable. His image with the press is, quite frankly, deserved. He is the Ice King, lacking meaningful connections with anyone and not caring for other people's experiences. He lacks self-awareness of this fact. And when called out on the pain he causes people, he has an anaphylactic allergy to personal responsibility. He derives pleasure from causing Theo jealousy. While he goes through some character growth, I think he needs a lot more.
The initial premise is that Will needs to improve his image with fans and the press, but this gets lost and is only really addressed at the beginning and towards the end of the book.
The romance and plot don't feel particularly stand-out to me compared to other books in the queer sports genre. It was fine, but not as memorable as others.
I wanted spice 😅
Overall, it's a decent read. I wanted more from it in terms of character growth and plot focus, but I didn't resist reading it.
September 16, 2026
i went into this book really expecting to love it as i’ve been on a roll with m/m tennis books this year; however, this was a bit of a let down. i liked will enough, but i could not stand theo. there is nothing less hot than a sore loser, and all of his temper tantrums on the court just gave me the biggest ick. alexa, play manchild by sabrina carpenter.
i also hated his behaviour during the third act breakup and how it affected will. this is my psa for everyone reading this: never let a man (especially a LOSER who you’ve only really known for like less than 2 weeks) bring you down, knock you off your game, and ruin the things you used to love. he doesn’t deserve to mess with your head like that. he’s just some guy and you’re so much smarter and cooler than him. and girl (term used gender inclusively), if that man comes crawling back to you, leave him out in the cold. obviously they get back together in the end, but will, my love, you can do so much better.
idk i just mostly spent this book annoyed. annoyed at theo for existing. annoyed at will for wanting theo. annoyed at theo for showing his face again when will was finally in a better place after everything he put him through. and annoyed at will for taking him back. also the ending was very very abrupt so now i’m annoyed about that too.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
i also hated his behaviour during the third act breakup and how it affected will. this is my psa for everyone reading this: never let a man (especially a LOSER who you’ve only really known for like less than 2 weeks) bring you down, knock you off your game, and ruin the things you used to love. he doesn’t deserve to mess with your head like that. he’s just some guy and you’re so much smarter and cooler than him. and girl (term used gender inclusively), if that man comes crawling back to you, leave him out in the cold. obviously they get back together in the end, but will, my love, you can do so much better.
idk i just mostly spent this book annoyed. annoyed at theo for existing. annoyed at will for wanting theo. annoyed at theo for showing his face again when will was finally in a better place after everything he put him through. and annoyed at will for taking him back. also the ending was very very abrupt so now i’m annoyed about that too.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 | 🌶️.5
Guard Your Heart was a high-angst, rivals-to-friends-to-more MM tennis romance, and honestly, the emotional ups and downs were about what I'd expect from two intensely competitive athletes at the top of their game. Theo and Will have a pretty angsty start, and when they end up playing a doubles tournament together to improve both of their public images, things get complicated. Between the rivalry, the pressure of professional tennis, and their own personal struggles, these two have plenty to work through before they can even begin figuring out what they mean to each other.
What I appreciated most was how the story handled their mental health struggles. Love wasn't some magical cure-all, and I liked that their individual growth and healing weren't completely dependent on their relationship. There was actual work involved, which made that aspect of their character development feel more meaningful.
Overall, a solid three stars for me. The angst was intents like camping, the competition was fierce, and the romance was relatively low spice at 1.5/5 🌶️. The door was cracked open, but we faded to black quite a bit. 🎾🖤 Thank you to Anna Rowan, Carla Brooks, LYX, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Guard Your Heart was a high-angst, rivals-to-friends-to-more MM tennis romance, and honestly, the emotional ups and downs were about what I'd expect from two intensely competitive athletes at the top of their game. Theo and Will have a pretty angsty start, and when they end up playing a doubles tournament together to improve both of their public images, things get complicated. Between the rivalry, the pressure of professional tennis, and their own personal struggles, these two have plenty to work through before they can even begin figuring out what they mean to each other.
What I appreciated most was how the story handled their mental health struggles. Love wasn't some magical cure-all, and I liked that their individual growth and healing weren't completely dependent on their relationship. There was actual work involved, which made that aspect of their character development feel more meaningful.
Overall, a solid three stars for me. The angst was intents like camping, the competition was fierce, and the romance was relatively low spice at 1.5/5 🌶️. The door was cracked open, but we faded to black quite a bit. 🎾🖤 Thank you to Anna Rowan, Carla Brooks, LYX, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book took me on such an emotional rollercoaster. I appreciated how William asked questions and Theo answered them honestly, even if they were not always the nicest answers. The same goes for when William reached out to his family. It was heartbreaking to read, but at the same time, I appreciated that he did not sugarcoat how he felt. He just let it all out, and we got to see his walls fall. From being recognized as an Ice King without feelings to really seeing who he truly was, emotions and all included.
It was interesting to see Will and Theo interact. As rivals, they hated each other, but when they were forced to become partners for doubles at a charity event, it was intriguing watching them go from hating each other to literally falling for each other. Will was always open about his sexuality, while Theo was not aware of his own. I enjoyed seeing how both characters managed their feelings. While we only got to see Will’s POV, it was nice to see his healing journey and how he started loving tennis again, while Theo was able to accept his feelings and come to terms with the feelings he did not expect to have.
Thank you LYX Publishing for the eARC!
It was interesting to see Will and Theo interact. As rivals, they hated each other, but when they were forced to become partners for doubles at a charity event, it was intriguing watching them go from hating each other to literally falling for each other. Will was always open about his sexuality, while Theo was not aware of his own. I enjoyed seeing how both characters managed their feelings. While we only got to see Will’s POV, it was nice to see his healing journey and how he started loving tennis again, while Theo was able to accept his feelings and come to terms with the feelings he did not expect to have.
Thank you LYX Publishing for the eARC!
October 10, 2026
Theo & Will haben mein Herz absolute im Sturm erobert!
Die beiden waren so so tolle Protagonisten mit verschieden „schwach“ Punkten und mir hat ihr Entwicklung unheimlich gut gefallen. Obwohl ich sagen muss das es mir glaube ich noch besser gefallen hätte wenn das Buch aus 2 Pov‘s geschrieben worden wäre, weil ich finde das Theo auch unbedingt eine Stimme gebraucht hätte! Ich glaube ich hätte seine Gefühle dadurch noch viel viel besser verstehen können und seine Entwicklung noch mehr mitgefühlt!
Die Sportart Tennis & wie detailliert es beschrieben worden ist hat mich auch völlig abholen können und will wollte garnicht aufhören von den beiden zu lesen!
Ihre Chemie und Anziehung hat man einseitig gespürt, obwohl ich wie oben schon mal gesagt habe es besser gefunden hätte wenn Theo auch einfach seinen eigenen Pov bekommen hätte.
Von meiner Seite eine absolute Empfehlung wenn man eine Queere Liebesgeschichte sucht und Charaktere sucht die eine tolle Entwicklung durchlaufen und mit einigen Dingen struggeln und man ihnen dabei zusieht wie sie nach und nach zu sich selber (zurück) finden. ♥️
Die beiden waren so so tolle Protagonisten mit verschieden „schwach“ Punkten und mir hat ihr Entwicklung unheimlich gut gefallen. Obwohl ich sagen muss das es mir glaube ich noch besser gefallen hätte wenn das Buch aus 2 Pov‘s geschrieben worden wäre, weil ich finde das Theo auch unbedingt eine Stimme gebraucht hätte! Ich glaube ich hätte seine Gefühle dadurch noch viel viel besser verstehen können und seine Entwicklung noch mehr mitgefühlt!
Die Sportart Tennis & wie detailliert es beschrieben worden ist hat mich auch völlig abholen können und will wollte garnicht aufhören von den beiden zu lesen!
Ihre Chemie und Anziehung hat man einseitig gespürt, obwohl ich wie oben schon mal gesagt habe es besser gefunden hätte wenn Theo auch einfach seinen eigenen Pov bekommen hätte.
Von meiner Seite eine absolute Empfehlung wenn man eine Queere Liebesgeschichte sucht und Charaktere sucht die eine tolle Entwicklung durchlaufen und mit einigen Dingen struggeln und man ihnen dabei zusieht wie sie nach und nach zu sich selber (zurück) finden. ♥️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 🌟
I adored William's character. He is loveable and realistic. He was incredibly self-aware, going over his reactions after a conflict and acknowledging when he handled things poorly. He doesn't wake up one day with his trauma and struggles evaporated and he is a flawless character all of a sudden. You see his effort and growth, which has you cheering for him on his healing journey.
I never grew a real connection to Theo. He is a chaotic, charismatic, hot head. While that makes their rivalry interesting, the whole story is from Will's POV and you don't get the same depth of understanding for Theo's actions. Personally, I would have loved some time in his head to empathize with his character a bit more.
The pacing is good and I stayed interested and invested in Will from the beginning. There is a nice balance of sport content to character interactions and the authors have fit a lot of plot into a short story! Ultimately a quick, sweet, and fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and LYX for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I adored William's character. He is loveable and realistic. He was incredibly self-aware, going over his reactions after a conflict and acknowledging when he handled things poorly. He doesn't wake up one day with his trauma and struggles evaporated and he is a flawless character all of a sudden. You see his effort and growth, which has you cheering for him on his healing journey.
I never grew a real connection to Theo. He is a chaotic, charismatic, hot head. While that makes their rivalry interesting, the whole story is from Will's POV and you don't get the same depth of understanding for Theo's actions. Personally, I would have loved some time in his head to empathize with his character a bit more.
The pacing is good and I stayed interested and invested in Will from the beginning. There is a nice balance of sport content to character interactions and the authors have fit a lot of plot into a short story! Ultimately a quick, sweet, and fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and LYX for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
I absolutely loved Guard Your Heart! I’m always a sucker for a good rivals-to-lovers romance, and William and Theo’s story completely pulled me in.
The authors did such an amazing job developing their relationship from rivalry and tension into something so much deeper and more emotional. I loved watching Will slowly begin to let his guard down and realize that maybe he had judged Theo too quickly. Their chemistry was so good, but it was the emotional moments between them that really made me fall in love with their story.
The tennis setting, the rivalry, the tension, and the romance all worked perfectly together. Anna Rowan and Carla Brooks created characters I genuinely cared about, and I didn’t want their story to end.
An emotional, addictive, and beautifully written rivals-to-lovers romance. This was absolutely a 5-star read for me!
The authors did such an amazing job developing their relationship from rivalry and tension into something so much deeper and more emotional. I loved watching Will slowly begin to let his guard down and realize that maybe he had judged Theo too quickly. Their chemistry was so good, but it was the emotional moments between them that really made me fall in love with their story.
The tennis setting, the rivalry, the tension, and the romance all worked perfectly together. Anna Rowan and Carla Brooks created characters I genuinely cared about, and I didn’t want their story to end.
An emotional, addictive, and beautifully written rivals-to-lovers romance. This was absolutely a 5-star read for me!
July 12, 2026
I went into this thinking it would be a cute sports romance; I thought that I would have fun but I didn't think that it would hit a bit harder than that. And it did.
Although this book did have a great romance plot, I almost found the self-discovery plot more interesting. By the end of the book I almost didn't care if the romance worked out because of how invested as I was in Will. You got to see how both Will and Theo grow as human beings and learn more about themselves.
I enjoyed how the characters communicated—for the most part, there was still miscommunication—and how they were relatively upfront with one another.
I really enjoyed this read, and I hope that it is made into a series as the ending makes me believe it should be.
Although this book did have a great romance plot, I almost found the self-discovery plot more interesting. By the end of the book I almost didn't care if the romance worked out because of how invested as I was in Will. You got to see how both Will and Theo grow as human beings and learn more about themselves.
I enjoyed how the characters communicated—for the most part, there was still miscommunication—and how they were relatively upfront with one another.
I really enjoyed this read, and I hope that it is made into a series as the ending makes me believe it should be.
October 8, 2026
I enjoyed this one! Throughout reading this I felt all the emotions, one minute I was happy and kicking my feat and then next I was angry, sad and crying. I really liked how this book handled the topic of pressure. Pressure from yourself and pressure from others as well as just mental health in general. I liked how Will and Theo’s relationship developed from rivals to friends to lovers. Though I would have really liked to have Theo’s pov. He definitely had a lot of internal struggles and possibly internal homophobia? But it’s had to say since we don’t get his pov. Other than that I had a great time with this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25/5
This book is very much Challengers (movie) meets Heated Rivalry.
This was an easy read, but I did want a little bit more oomph and characterization from these characters. They read a bit too flat for me. I think that was also emphasized by their chemistry, I felt like they needed a lot more of it for the story that they're in.
This is a rivals to partners to lovers dynamic. And that is a fun time!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This book is very much Challengers (movie) meets Heated Rivalry.
This was an easy read, but I did want a little bit more oomph and characterization from these characters. They read a bit too flat for me. I think that was also emphasized by their chemistry, I felt like they needed a lot more of it for the story that they're in.
This is a rivals to partners to lovers dynamic. And that is a fun time!
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Lyx for this ARC!
This book was HEAVY on the angst I feel like, definitely a good emotional read!!! Will and Theo draw you into their dynamic quite well. Each man having their own issues, and how they dealt with them. I enjoyed the sports-talk and its importance to the plot. The main characters really zone you into their world, focusing on themselves and the other. I really did enjoy the ending as well!
I'd recommend this for anyone who loves love and tennis ♡ or just looking for a good romance book!
This book was HEAVY on the angst I feel like, definitely a good emotional read!!! Will and Theo draw you into their dynamic quite well. Each man having their own issues, and how they dealt with them. I enjoyed the sports-talk and its importance to the plot. The main characters really zone you into their world, focusing on themselves and the other. I really did enjoy the ending as well!
I'd recommend this for anyone who loves love and tennis ♡ or just looking for a good romance book!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5/5⭐️
(Anmerkung!! Ich hab bisher nur die ersten 50 Seiten als Leseprobe erhalten. Auf diese bezieht sich die Rezension)
Ich lese nicht oft auf Englisch, daher hatte ich erst etwas Sorge, dass mir das Lesen schwerfallen wird und ich nicht gut in die Geschichte reinkomme. Allerdings war das gar kein Problem! Der Schreibstil ist so angenehm und leicht, dass ich nur so durch die Leseprobe geflogen bin, und ich freu mich richtig doll, ab dem ET weiterlesen zu können😍
(Anmerkung!! Ich hab bisher nur die ersten 50 Seiten als Leseprobe erhalten. Auf diese bezieht sich die Rezension)
Ich lese nicht oft auf Englisch, daher hatte ich erst etwas Sorge, dass mir das Lesen schwerfallen wird und ich nicht gut in die Geschichte reinkomme. Allerdings war das gar kein Problem! Der Schreibstil ist so angenehm und leicht, dass ich nur so durch die Leseprobe geflogen bin, und ich freu mich richtig doll, ab dem ET weiterlesen zu können😍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of Guard Your Heart and leave this review voluntarily.
Guard Your Heart has such great tension that I couldn't put the book down, literally read it in one sitting and it is on the longer side for a romance book. The emotional rollercoaster I experienced as I read kept me hooked from start to finish. The main conflict definitely wrecked me though. Watching that all happen was...heartbreaking. I cannot recommend this enough.
Guard Your Heart has such great tension that I couldn't put the book down, literally read it in one sitting and it is on the longer side for a romance book. The emotional rollercoaster I experienced as I read kept me hooked from start to finish. The main conflict definitely wrecked me though. Watching that all happen was...heartbreaking. I cannot recommend this enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was Fine. I just didn't really care about the characters nor did I like the writing, and also (with the caveat that I know nothing about being Norwegian) didn't feel like William was actually Norwegian. It also felt like a lot of this book was just moving towards one specific moment at the end, and (again) I didn't really care that much.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC Review :
A sports romance with potential, but not very well executed,I mean, what I’m trying to say is that the characters deserved more context and backstory?and then there’s the ending? it should have been developed ,developed ,developed, so much more.
A sports romance with potential, but not very well executed,I mean, what I’m trying to say is that the characters deserved more context and backstory?and then there’s the ending? it should have been developed ,developed ,developed, so much more.
April 29, 2026
I need Goodreads to offer half stars because, really, this was a 2 1/2 book. Part of the issue is that I got an advanced copy and the formatting on my Kindle was not great. Part of the issue is that it very obviously hasn’t been edited yet as there were lots of repeated sentences and missing/wrong words. But really, the biggest issue was that it was just kind of boring. I found it hard to believe that Will and Theo fell for each other in what was basically less than 2 weeks. It just did not feel super genuine, especially given Will’s personality. It also lacked spice. There is kissing and then immediate fade to black. I am really not a fan of closed door romance in adult novels. And the ending? Ugh. There is resolution in that Will and Theo talk out what happened between them and admit their feeling for each other but then it just ends. There’s nothing beyond that. We never get to see them as an actual couple. We don’t even get to see how the Australian Open ends. It was a pretty abrupt and disappointing finish. Would I read another book by the authors? Maybe, but I don’t think I’ll be seeking them out.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
For starters, thank you LYX and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
I really wish I liked this more than I did with how excited I was, but there were just some things missing that reduced its overall quality.
The romance was good, and the two leads had a strong dynamic and solid chemistry. The issues lie in the characters as individuals.
One of the most relevant aspects of the plot and to Will's development was his aversion toward developing deep connections to people. This issue originated from his past of close people in his life disappointing and turning on him. Considering it's such a major part of his character, one would assume that it would be explored in detail, but it never gets that far. There's a brief description of parental emotional distance/neglect, but it's never given the time it needed. This is a common issue throughout the book, where significant themes and emotions are somewhat described but never shown.
As said before, the dynamic between the two leads were fine, and they did have chemistry (though the 'rivalry' aspect was a bit oversold) but Theo's responses and actions were kind of unexpected, and the book would have benefitted from having his POV as well. The biggest conflict between the two leads was Theo's inability to cope with his newfound attraction and its potential publicity. It is completely understandable, except that homophobia and societal backlash was never a present theme in this book. There is nothing wrong with that, but then why did Theo react the way he did throughout the book? His discomfort or avoidance is understandable to an extent, but this felt extreme for the lack of explanation.
There is also very minimal actual tennis going on if that was something you cared about.
The book could have been twice as good if the characters had more depth to justify their thoughts and actions and with more showing than telling. Otherwise, it was a fun story that was able to complete in just a day.
I really wish I liked this more than I did with how excited I was, but there were just some things missing that reduced its overall quality.
The romance was good, and the two leads had a strong dynamic and solid chemistry. The issues lie in the characters as individuals.
One of the most relevant aspects of the plot and to Will's development was his aversion toward developing deep connections to people. This issue originated from his past of close people in his life disappointing and turning on him. Considering it's such a major part of his character, one would assume that it would be explored in detail, but it never gets that far. There's a brief description of parental emotional distance/neglect, but it's never given the time it needed. This is a common issue throughout the book, where significant themes and emotions are somewhat described but never shown.
As said before, the dynamic between the two leads were fine, and they did have chemistry (though the 'rivalry' aspect was a bit oversold) but Theo's responses and actions were kind of unexpected, and the book would have benefitted from having his POV as well. The biggest conflict between the two leads was Theo's inability to cope with his newfound attraction and its potential publicity. It is completely understandable, except that homophobia and societal backlash was never a present theme in this book. There is nothing wrong with that, but then why did Theo react the way he did throughout the book? His discomfort or avoidance is understandable to an extent, but this felt extreme for the lack of explanation.
There is also very minimal actual tennis going on if that was something you cared about.
The book could have been twice as good if the characters had more depth to justify their thoughts and actions and with more showing than telling. Otherwise, it was a fun story that was able to complete in just a day.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️
This book had more depth than I was expecting going into it, maybe I should’ve had an idea because of the title but alas I did not. That’s not to say I wasn’t pleasantly surprised I definitely enjoyed how much we got to figure out the characters more and more alongside our MMC especially considering the 1st person pov. It felt like when things went wrong they were truly happening I couldn’t just look into the other persons mind to know what they were thinking and why they did what they did. Thought this was also a big out of my norm as far as sports romance goes as I typically read ones that are more romance than sport and this was very detailed and prominent when it came to the tennis scenes; which is obviously a large part of the book and characters, despite it being a bit different than I’m used to I still ended up really enjoying my time reading this and am so great full to have been able to have access to the ARC. Overall I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy tennis (or would like to learn some more about how the game works) and want a bit of an complicated relationship added on with mental challenges and overcoming.
This book had more depth than I was expecting going into it, maybe I should’ve had an idea because of the title but alas I did not. That’s not to say I wasn’t pleasantly surprised I definitely enjoyed how much we got to figure out the characters more and more alongside our MMC especially considering the 1st person pov. It felt like when things went wrong they were truly happening I couldn’t just look into the other persons mind to know what they were thinking and why they did what they did. Thought this was also a big out of my norm as far as sports romance goes as I typically read ones that are more romance than sport and this was very detailed and prominent when it came to the tennis scenes; which is obviously a large part of the book and characters, despite it being a bit different than I’m used to I still ended up really enjoying my time reading this and am so great full to have been able to have access to the ARC. Overall I would definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy tennis (or would like to learn some more about how the game works) and want a bit of an complicated relationship added on with mental challenges and overcoming.
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